Shepard h



(No Model.)

S. H. CURRIE.

SOUNDING LEAD.

. Patented Feb. 8, 1898..

fn/ran/io 2" lhviino STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SHEPARD H. CURRIE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK MARRIOTT, OF SAME PLACE.

SOUNDlNG-LEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,725, dated February 8, 1898. Application filed January 11, 1897- -Serial No. 618,793. (No model.)

T0 (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHEPARD H. CURRIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding -'Leads, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Sounding-leads, as the name implies, are usually made of the metal which on account of its greater specific gravity is better adapted for the purpose than any other of the more common metals. These leads are also generally made of the shape to cause least re-' sistance in passing through the water being tapered both at the-lower and at the upper end. In the use of such leads in sounding the lower end frequently is battered by striking against rocks or other hard substances,- so

that the taper shape of its lower end is soon.

destroyed.

It is the objectof my invention to provide a lead which while formed in the main from lead is provided with a nose or lower end piece formed of a harder metal capable of retaining its shape when subjected to any ordinary use.

In the drawings, Figure'l is avertical longitudinal section through my improved lead. Fig. 2 is a detached perspectix e view of the lower end piece or nose.

A is a nose-piece of the proper tapered shape to form the lower end of the lead, preferablyformed of cast-brass. Bis an anchor cast integral with this nose-piece and extending upwardly therefrom.

To form the lead, I take the above-described nose-piece and place it in the mold in which the lead is to be cast, so that after the casting the said nose-piece will be as firmly united to the rest of the lead as if the whole were made of but one metal. The usual hollow C is formed in the lower end of the lead, adapted to receive the wax or tallow used in sounding.

What I claim as my invention is- A sounding-lead, comprising the lead portion, and an encircling nose portion of relatively hard material at the lower end of the lead, a stem arranged above and in line with the central'axis of the nose-piece, and separated radial connections between the stem and nose-piece, the stem and connections being embedded in the lead, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SHEPARD H. oURRI 

